POTENTATE: "One who possesses great power or sway; a ruler, sovereign, or monarch"

By MsW

"Potentate" refers to a ruler or person who possesses great power, authority, or control over a particular area, often used in reference to a monarch or someone holding significant political sway.

The term "potentate" comes from the Latin word "potentatus," which means "ruler" or "one who possesses power." It has connections to "potens," meaning "powerful" or "able."

Here are five sample sentences using "potentate":

  1. The ancient kingdom was governed by a powerful potentate whose word was law.

  2. As a benevolent potentate, she strived to improve the lives of her citizens through fair policies.

  3. The history books detailed the exploits of various potentates who shaped the course of their nations.

  4. The conference hall was filled with diplomats and potentates discussing strategies for global peace.

  5. Despite being a potentate, he ruled with compassion, earning the respect and admiration of his people.


Dictionary.com/Word of the Day Archive/potentate
potentate \POH-tuhn-tayt\, noun:
One who possesses great power or sway; a ruler, sovereign, or monarch.

The shah of Persia, although he had to acknowledge that the sultan was a worthy rival, still considered himself a mighty potentate, as did the sultan himself.
-- Olivier Bernier, The World in 1800

How can he run the operation, an industry potentate wonders, "when the operations people don't report to him?"
-- "Michael Mouse", Time, August 28, 1995

After the capture of Tunis, the Emperor passed through Paris with the consent of his brother-in-law, King Francis, who wanted to present him with something worthy of so great a potentate.
-- Benvenuto Cellini, Autobiography

Potentate derives from Late Latin potentatus, "a powerful person," from Latin potentatus, "power, especially political power; supremacy," from potens, "able, powerful," from posse, "to be able." It is related to potent, "powerful," and potential, "having possibility or capability."

 



 

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